Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 10/15/2001

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Several years ago a VFW member from Jamestown, NY applied for and was denied access to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) assisted Senior Housing program. This 84-year-old WWII veteran at the time was 60% service connected disabled. He was denied access to the program because his income -- as defined by HUD regulations -- was $2000 over the limit for a family of two. The veteran and his wife’s sole income were Social Security and VA disability compensation. Had HUD not included VA compensation as income in determining eligibility this veteran and his wife would have been welcomed into the program.

For the past three years I have been trying unsuccessfully to have HUD not include VA disability compensation as income in the "Validation of Income Process" when a service-connected disabled veteran applies for HUD’s Assisted Housing Program. Attempts made during the previous Administration went unanswered. Several months ago I did meet with Secretary Martinez where he expressed interest in working with VA to resolve this issue. However, to date I have not seen any progress.

Sgt. Shaft, anything you could do to rectify this injustice would be greatly appreciated. Even the Internal Revenue Service does not include VA disability compensation as income.

James N. Magill, Director
National Employment Policy
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

Dear Jim:
It is outrageous that the Bush administration and HUD Secretary Martinez are continuing the Clinton/Cuomo unfair policy towards disabled veterans. Denying disabled veterans low-cost senior housing with this meany-test does not sound like compassionate conservatism to me. I strongly urge President Bush and the 107th congress to eliminate HUD’s including VA compensation as income when determining eligibility for the HUD housing program. As you stated, even IRS excludes VA disability compensation as income. 

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I found your recent article on the criteria for burial and internment in Arlington National Cemetery very helpful. However, in listing who is eligible it failed to address an issue that I am now facing, one that I am sure many other veterans are also facing. My mother is well into her eighties and when she passes I would like to have her buried with my father who has been buried in Arlington National cemetery since 1965.

My father divorced my mother in 1964 and remarried shortly thereafter. His second wife died years ago and is buried in a private cemetery. Is there a provision in the rules that would enable my mother to be buried with my father? If not, is there some kind of petition that I can seek allowing the burial? My parents were married nearly 25 years. During those years while my father was fighting in WWII and Korea, my mother raised five children, often alone. I think my mother has earned the right to be buried in Arlington. Thank you for your help.

Jim G.
 Silver Spring, MD

Dear Jim:
Unfortunately, the answer to your question is, no. The Office of the Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery that Army regulations specify that a spouse who is divorced from a service-person is ineligible for internment in an Army national cemetery.

SHAFT KUDOS
The Sarge joins American Legion National Commander Richard J. Santos in praising the Senate for recently passing legislation allowing service-connected military retirees to receive, concurrently, retired pay and disability compensation. Presently, retired pay is reduced by the amount of disability compensation received. Santos said, "For a century, military retirees with service-connected disabilities have made a sacrifice that no other federal retiree has been forced to make." I again join National Commander Santos in praising Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) for introducing this equitable amendment. Rep. Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced similar legislation in the House. The House version authorizes retired pay restoration contingent on finding offsets in the FY 2003 budget. Hopefully, Senators Carl Levin and John Warner, and Representatives Bob Stump and Ike Skelton, and other conferees will support the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act that includes Senator Reid’s amendment on concurrent receipt.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi, deserves a kudos for acting expeditiously in promising and coordinating services and benefits for veterans, active-duty military members and their family members killed or injured in the terrorist attack on September 11. These include processing of monetary benefits to survivors of veterans and military members and expediting cemetery burial markers. The VA has assembled a casualty assistance team to ensure that survivors of veterans and military members killed in the attacks are aware of their VA benefits. Team members will work with Department of Defense personnel and funeral homes to identify survivors who may be eligible for Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance, dependency and indemnity compensation, dependents’ educational assistance, home loan guarantees or a burial allowance. VA has requested holders of home mortgages that it guarantees not to start foreclosures affected by the attacks for 90 days from September 11. VA is encouraging loan services to extend the dates for imposing late charges on mortgage payments. VA is also informing lenders that National guard and Reserve members who may be called to active duty could be entitled to lean repayment relief under the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940. VA’s mental health counselors are responding to requests for psychological counseling for trauma and professionals skilled in treating post-traumatic stress disorder are assisting people affected by the disaster. VA medical professionals were available to help where ever additional medical help was needed as part of the VA’s medical mission, which includes enhancing the nations the nation’s response in a national emergency by providing timely contingency medical support and other services.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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